One
of the biggest challenges for Christians today in our cruel and sadistic
world is resisting the urge to abandon love for justice. But, love for
God and one’s neighbor, being the greatest of the commandments,
underscores our call and duty as followers of Jesus Christ to not take
vengeance for an injury or injustice inflicted upon us or return evil
for evil regardless of the opportunity or circumstance.

It’s
one thing to defend – it’s quite another to attack. Knowing
and accepting the difference, which is not always easy, especially under
the stress of perceived danger or heightened emotion, will affect what
we say and do, revealing to those watching, particularly those with spiritual
discernment, our motive and agenda, be it agape love or something else
– not to mention the legitimacy and priority of our witness for
Christ.

The
Tennessean's Bob Smietana, recently reported: “A new poll from
the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life found that—62
percent of white evangelical Protestants surveyed believe that torture
is often or sometimes justified.” He went on to say: “The
poll also found that 44 percent of all regular churchgoers — regardless
of race or denomination — believe that torture is often or sometimes
justified.”

My question
for that 62 percent and 44 percent is: How do you torture someone you
love? How do you witness to someone you have just “waterboarded”
or worse for information they may or may not have? If we truly love our
enemies, as Jesus commands us to, and are genuinely interested in their
conversion and their understanding of God’s love and forgiveness,
is such a thing even possible?

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Can
Christians have it both ways?

Unfortunately
many prominent conservatives have successfully redefined righteousness
for the brethren they share political affiliations with, by claiming “enhanced
interrogation” techniques like “waterboarding” are not
really torture – that such practices are justifiable because of
the lives that might be saved.

Shall
we save lives at the expense of souls?

Navy
SEAL and former Minnesota governor, Jesse Ventura, has emphatically stated
in numerous on-camera interviews that waterboarding is indeed torture,
in spite of what many staunch republicans claim. He should know because
he was waterboarded himself as part of his SEAL training.

A former
Navy interrogation instructor also came forward on camera to tell a congressional
hearing that the technique should not be called “waterboarding”
– that “it should be called the drowning torture.” Part
of his job, you see, was to teach sailors and marines how to survive it.
One does not need to be taught how to survive something that is harmless.

Radio
personality, Mancow Muller, used to believe waterboarding wasn’t
torture – that is until he was waterboarded himself on camera. After
only a few seconds he jumped up and declared it to be “absolutely
torture.”

How
could Christians in good conscience, support such a thing? Jesus said
when iniquity abounds the love of many will turn cold. Frankly, I can’t
think of any behavior colder than torture – can you?

If the
Pew poll is accurate, it seems to me a great number of professing Christians
have either been honestly deceived or taken pragmatism to a brutal new
level. The Bible says that men who trust in men – whose confidence
is in the flesh and whose hearts have departed from the Lord are cursed.

What
about those who resort to torturing suspects to get what they want?

Was
Jesus tortured on the cross that we might torture others in His name for
a good cause? Is that the gospel we are committed to or could it be our
love has just grown cold?

I wonder
– would Christians consider it torture if they were rounded up,
strapped down, blindfolded and waterboarded until they renounced their
faith in Christ?

If it’s
not really torture, then I guess we have nothing to worry about, do we?

“And
because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he
that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” –
Matthew 24:12-13

Paul Proctor, a rural resident
of the Volunteer state and seasoned veteran of the country music industry,
retired from showbiz in the late 1990's to dedicate himself to addressing
important social issues from a distinctly biblical perspective. As a freelance
writer and regular columnist for NewsWithViews.com,
he extols the wisdom and truths of scripture through commentary and insight
on cultural trends and current events. His articles appear regularly on
a variety of news and opinion sites across the internet and in print.